DESPITE the fact that women and their activities are
integral parts of the development of a country, the state of women and
children in the country has always taken a backseat, preceded by the
‘more important’ issues of political power and things related to its
misuse – including ‘tit for tat’ criminal cases. One forgets that
vital issues of economic stability, development and education all directly
involve women’s participation and to ensure their safety and safeguard
their rights as citizens of Bangladesh is vital to the country’s being.
Apart from empty promises, which are a mandatory part of election
manifestos, the lot of women is, for the most part, monitored by
non-government organisations and women’s groups.

Given below is a brief description of various issues of
various aspects of violence against women, in 2001, as documented by
Odhikar, a human rights organisation. The organisation basically deals
with monitoring, documenting and investigting violations to the civil and
political rights of the citizens of Bangladesh, and thus has limited
topics on women’s rights. However, it recognises the importance of
highlighting these rights and their violations, as they are some of the
most common forms of violence against women.Rape: Incidents of rape in
Bangladesh can be counted in the hundreds every year. Only a fraction of
the incidents are reported in the newspapers, as prevailing social norms
dictate that the subject remains taboo. Unfortunately, society should wake
up to the fact that the more rapists apprehended and punished, the safer
society. In small areas of the country, the criminal is general recognised
by his victim, but corrupt police, negligent doctors and vested interest
groups almost always manage to keep the incident under wraps. During the
year 2001, Odhikar documented 765 reported incidents of rape – where 138
of the victims were children, 8 women were raped by law enforcing agents
and 4 women were from the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Acid Throwing: Acid throwing has become an effective
method of revenge and vengeance in Bangladesh today. It is so popular,
that even men are now becoming victims. Cases of acid throwing occur over
land disputes, political rivalry spurned affections and proposals of
marriage and jilted affairs. Children are also sometimes caught in the
crossfire, usually because they are with the adult victim at the time of
the incident. In 2001, Odhikar documented 206 incidents of acid throwing
where 33 of the victims were children.

Dowry related violence: Despite laws banning the
practice, social and traditional norm helps families decide to demand and
give dowry. According to the Dowry Prohibition Act, both giving and
receiving dowry is a punishable offence. Like rape, dowry related violence
is helped by ‘society’ and members of it who demand that dowry be
given or voluntarily give dowry. In rural Bangladesh – and even in
families in the urban areas, incessant demands for dowry after marriage
cumulate in both mental and physical torture and even in murder. There
were 163 reported cases of dowry related violence in 2001, where 6 women
were killed.

Women in Prison: As part of Odhikar’s current
investigation work, the organisation has investigated the condition of
female inmates in Dhaka, Jessore, Rajshashi and Comilla Central Jails.
Needless to say, female prisoners are among the most neglected group of
people in Bangladesh. The conditions in the jail cells were deplorable.
There was only one toilet in the grossly overcrowded cells and that was in
an unhygienic condition due to excessive use. The food given was little in
quantity and very poor in quality. Norms laid down in the Jail Code were
not adhered to and there was hardly any medical treatment for female
inmates – and none at all for the pregnant women. In October 2001, alone
there were 248 female inmates in Dhaka Central Jail (actual capacity 84),
77 in Comilla Central Jail (actual capacity 22); 105 in Rajshahi Central
Jail (actual capacity 41) and 139 in Jessore Central Jail (actual capacity
45).

Corruption, vested interest, non-implementation of
existing laws and family pressure and the fear of social ostracisation all
contribute to acts of violence against women. Certain social values need
to change and effective measures taken to ensure that the rights of women
are safeguarded and that perpetrators get their just desserts.Prepared for
Odhikar by Saira Rahman Khan.

Odhikar Report The state of Freedom of Expression:
2001"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to
seek, receive and import inhumation and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers." -Article 19 of the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

Although freedom of expression is a fundamental and
basic human right of every human being. But by profession journalist
exercise this basic right for the well being of people, nation and also
for mankind. This make them targets of people who may not like what they
say or do. It may happen in the case of government. Basically in the
illiberal democracy and autocratic regime journalist become target of
state and ruling party. So freedom of expression now become on of the
parameter of liberal democracy and good governance. To protect the
journalist from this target International Covenant on Civil and Political
rights states in its Article 19.

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinion
without inference.2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of
expressions; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and import
inhumation and ideas of all kind regardless of frontiers either orally; in
writing or in print, in the form of art or through any other media of
choice.

Last year was very significant for media people. We
experienced three government in this year (1) Awami League government
under the leadership of Shiekh Hasina (2) Non party Caretaker Government
headed by former Chief Justice Latifur Rahman (3) Newly elected 4 party
alliance government under the leadership of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda
Zia. So to the journalist it was very much empirical, on the other hand
experimental to understanding the limit of real freedom of expression and
tolerance level of each government. Year of attacks on journalistAccording
to Odhikar documentation, 87 major incidents of violence against
journalist had been reported. Of this number, 48 incidents were organized
during the Awami League regime, i.e., till 15 July 2001. Of this 48, 1
journalist was killed and 67 injured. Other incidents of violence included
kidnapping, attack on the newspaper offices, attempts to murder, setting
fire to homes and attacks on local press clubs by police.During the tenure
of Caretaker Government, a total of 16 incidents of violence against
journalist were reported, where 1 journalist was killed and 16 injured.

After the 4-party alliance came to power after October
10, 2001 the total number of incidents of violence against journalists was
reported to be 23, where 30 person were injured.

Apart from these incidents, various forms of
intimidation on the free flow of information were also evident.Given below
are some of the reported incidents of violence against journalists –
murder, physical attacks and attacks on homes and offices.

Nohor Ali – KilledNohor Ali 38 was the Dumuria
correspondent for the Khulna based regional Daily Anirban. On the morning
of April 17 2001, about fifteen armed men beat him mercilessly. When the
gang left the spot his wife admitted him to the local hospital and later
he was referred to Khulna General Hospital where, on April 21, he died. It
was alleged that one police officer of the Dumuria station was involved in
the killing. Just before the death, Nohor had filed a series of reports on
the activities of outlawed parties and the area. After Nohor’s death,
Sub-Inspector, Ali Akbar, one of the suspects in the murder, filed a case
and arrested four people. However local people soon started questioning
the role of the investigating officer.

Mean while, Nohor’s wife came under sustain threat.
Local people said that the same gang tried to rape her thrice. Her
daughter, about 14, escaped several abduction attempts. The pressure was
so great on the family that at one stage Nohar’s wife was force to
appear in the court and officially declare that the four arrested persons
were not involve in the murder of her husband.Ahsan Ali - Killed On
July 22 2001, police recovered the body of the Rupganj correspondent of
the Daily Jugantor, Ahsan Ali, from DND canal near Gandhabpur high school
in Rupganj upazila. Ahsan Ali was missing since the night of July 20. His
hands and legs had been tied and his body bore the marks of acid burns.

His wife, Shahida Akhter, alleged that upazila BCL
General Secretary Meher Ali had threatened the life of her husband five
days ago. It is alleged that his objective reporting had hurt the BCL, the
pro - Awami League student’s wing. Tipu Sultan- Injured On
January 25, 2001, UNB Feni correspondent Tipu Sultan was seriously injured
by the cader of local Awami League MP Joinal Hazari and his legs and hands
broken. Witness said that Tipu was picked-up form near by petrol pump on
Trunk Road at about 8:15 pm by a group of 4 or 5 people. He was beaten
mercilessly and hacked with sharp weapons.Hazari cadres Babu and Kohinoor
allegedly led the group. They were shouting and hurling abuses against
newsmen while beating Tipu Sultan. The passers by rushed him to a local
clinic from where he was shifted to hospital. Tipu was operated on several
times at home and abroad. The Bangla daily, Prothom Alo contributed to his
treatment by raising funds. Probir Sikder–Attempt on life On the
morning of 20 April 2001, gunmen shot and stabbed Daily Janakantha’s
Faridpur correspondent Probir Sikder, leaving him seriously injured.
Police and witnesses said the newsman came under attack while he was going
to cover a robbery in the town.A gang of six terrorists blasted bombs and
stopped his motorbike. As Probir fell down, he received two bullets in his
right leg and left hand. Ataher Ali Chowdhury-Kidnapped On 15 June
2001, Sitakunda correspondent of Daily Ittefaq Ataher Ali Chowdhury Khasru
was kidnapped by armed cadres of Manun, the son of a local Awami League
MP. Initially Khasru’s family failed to lodge any case in local police
station. Later, on 18 June, a case was filed in Chittagong Pachlaish
police station under the Public Safety Act. Under pressure from the
journalist community, the police started operation and interrogation of
suspected persons after an 8-day delay. After missing for 11 days, Ataher
Ali Chowdhury was found lying in the Sitakunda area where he was thrown
off a microbus. He said that the gang had tortured him and that he had
been forced to drink urine and alcohol.Bombs hurled at Safiq Rehman’s
HouseOn the evening of December 4 2001, the house of Shafiq Rehman,
Editor of Bangla weekly Jaijaidin came under bomb attack. A group of
unidentified miscreants hurled the bombs at his Eskaton Garden home.Attack
in Daily Purbakone OfficeOn 18 April 2001, at midnight, Awami League
Ward Commissioner of Chittagong City Corporation and alleged terrorist
Mamunur Rashid Mamun, attacked the Chittagong based regional Daily
Purbakone office. Brandishing a revolver, he kicked and punch senior
journalists Eskander Ali Chowdhury and Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury. Both were
seriously injured. Mamun also beat other employees and security guards of
the Daily Purbakone. Attack in Daily SitalakkhaOn 21 October 2001,
a group of terrorists attacked the Narayanganj based regional Dail
Sitalakkha and threatened its Editor. It was alleged that the attackers
belonged to the ruling party.Attack on Awami League Press Conference On
11 November 2001, a group of Jubodal armed cadres attacked an Awami League
organized press conference. Jubodal cadres started beating journalists and
Awami League workers and leaders. 16 person, including 8 journalists, were
injured in this incident. 12 Jubodal workers were expelled from the
organization for this attack. Police arrested the main persons who
masterminded the attack.Police action on journalists On 26 February
2001, police attacked a press conference organized by the final year
examinees of Sadat University College, leaving nine newsmen injured. The
examinees had arranged a press conference protesting what they said were
mass expulsions in this examination.A photojournalist Iftekhar Anupam came
under attack while police also assaulted eight other newsmen including
General Secretary of Press Club.In August 2001, during a clash between two
rival fractions of the Jatiya Party, police attacked Rangpur Press Club
and hurled abuses against journalists and threw down the signboard of the
club. Later, the local District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police
sought the apology of the journalists. Record in harassing journalistsLast
year, the highest number of journalists harassed or attacked were in the
Barisal region, especially in Gournadi upazila. According to the Daily
Independent, journalists, including the district and upazila level
correspondents of the national dailies and the reporters of the local
dailies of Barisal region were not able to perform their professional
duties in the face of attacks, assault threat by terrorists and arrest by
police. A total of 42 such journalists were either manhandled, assaulted,
threatened by terrorists or harassed by the police in different ways
during months from January 16 to June 19 of last year.

The house of several journalists, two of whom are local
Press Club presidents of Barisal and Bauphal, were attacked and ransacked.
Cases were filed against some journalists who are attached to popular
dailies, and two journalists were arrested during the period. Needless to
say, some of those who had cases filed against them were crime
reporters.Freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed by the
Constitution of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the freedom of the press –
where speech and expression are incorporated – is a constant target for
unscrupulous, vested interest groups and their supporters.